VYBZ KARTEL IS NOW INNOCENT!
(Picture: Vybz KarteL AI image)
Vybz Kartel, lauded as the King of the Dancehall and “Worl’ Boss’, has been incarcerated in Jamaica’ since 2011, arguably the height of his career, for the murder of Barrington Burton, and was also found guilty in 2014 for Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. Although the artist has been acquitted of the first murder, he was given a life sentence for his involvement in the second.
Kartel, born Adija Azim Palmer, has professed his innocence and has pushed for his freedom, alleging that law enforcement officials framed him and that critical evidence was tampered with during the investigation, thus popularising the slogans ‘Free Worl’ Boss’ and ‘Freedom is a Must’ during his lengthy incarceration.
Kartel has maintained a notable career, recording multiple songs weekly while incarcerated.
After exhausting his legal options within the Jamaican judicial system, Kartel turned to the Privy Council, seeking to overturn his conviction and secure a fair trial. The Privy Council, based in London, is the final court of appeal for many Commonwealth countries, including Jamaica, and is renowned for its supposed impartiality and expertise in law matters.
On March 14 2024, the Privy Council found Kartel’s conviction wrongful and unfair. The Privy Council’s existence is a controversial topic, as it is a direct reminder of Jamaica's not-too-distant colonial past and the wider Anglophone Caribbean region. Leaders of CARICOM greatly criticise it for its colonial ties, and they advocate for the use of The Caribbean Court of Justice instead, as it marks the autonomy of the Caribbean region over its legal affairs.
Established in 2005, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana and St. Lucia have replaced the Privy Council with the CCJ. Many Jamaicans wish for Jamaica to follow suit, especially after Kartel’s appeal. Kartel's legal team has argued that crucial evidence, such as text messages, was improperly obtained and may have been manipulated to incriminate him. Furthermore, they have highlighted inconsistencies in witness testimonies and alleged misconduct by law enforcement officials.
Isat Buchanan, Vybz Kartel’s lawyer, is very optimistic about the case's outcome. On March 21, he claimed that bail may not even be necessary for the international artist and that a retrial will not happen despite Paula Llewellyn’s push for a retrial. This is because he has spent thirteen years in prison already.
Kartel’s declining health is also a point of concern for his legal time, as Fox broke the news that his health is ailing due to heart conditions in prison. Irrespective of this, Buchanan and Llewellyn are waiting for King Charles’ approval of the next steps of this case as Jamaica remains a Commonwealth country, where the British monarchy prevails. Once the next step is approved, it is likely that the Jamaican Court of Appeal will decide whether a retrial is necessary because Kartel has spent thirteen years incarcerated, nearly a third of the minimum term of his life imprisonment.
Family, fans, and supporters of Vybz Kartel eagerly await further news about his case. If released, he is expected to join his British fiancé Sidem Ozturk, whom he professed his love for in his 2022 album, True Religion, most notably the track ‘Interracial’.
While the world awaits Kartel’s retrial or release, one can only speculate whether this case will have further implications for Jamaica’s legal system.